Best Beginner Trumpet Review in 2018

When the beginning trumpet player is a child, it makes no sense to purchase an expensive instrument. Even the most responsible child must learn to carefully care for a trumpet. From using a harsh chemical brass cleaner to clean the trumpet to attempting to buff the valves clean with an abrasive agent, a child simply doesn't know how to properly care for an instrument. The beginning instrument should be well-constructed, sturdy and capable of withstanding the abuses of playing in a school band. After a few years of playing on a starter horn, the budding trumpet player can move past a beginner trumpet to something more expensive.

Things To Consider

Selection

The color of the instrument is not just a cosmetic addition. The color generally indicates the type of metal used to create the trumpet, and it can affect the tone of the trumpet. Beginning trumpets generally come in silver or brass. Silver gives the instrument a smoother tone while brass will give the instrument a brassier sound. When buying a beginning trumpet, it's best to stick with a brass trumpet. The brass trumpet offers the stereotypical brass sound, and it will enable the trumpet player to cut through the band more easily when playing solos. While professionals may have several different trumpets at their disposal during a concert, this is not necessary for the trumpet player who is just starting out. Instead, stick to trumpets made only of brass. There are also plastic trumpets available, but these should be avoided at all costs. They do not provide the proper tone production, and no band director will allow a plastic trumpet to play alongside traditional brass trumpet players.

Benefits

The benefits of a beginner trumpet are numerous, and choosing a beginner trumpet is a fairly easy task if you know what to look for. A beginner trumpet tends to be more robust than professional trumpets and will stand up better to abuse. Higher-quality trumpets use delicate alloys to create the instrument, and this means they can bend and dent easily. A beginner trumpet tends to use stronger materials and will be harder to dent. A single dent in an instrument can affect the tone production. However, there are some places where a dent is more devastating than others. Getting a dent in the lead pipe that's connected to the mouthpiece will affect the sound more dramatically than a dent on the bell.

Buying Criteria

Silver should never be considered for a beginning trumpet. Stay clear of any silver-plated instruments. On the off-chance the silver plated instrument costs less than a brass-plated instrument, it's very likely there is something wrong with the instrument. A silver-plated instrument should cost much more. Look for a trumpet made of brass with a lacquer finish if possible. A beginner trumpet will generally have more resistance toward the top of the range. This is important since it will help prevent the student from ruining their embouchure by attempting to play too high. The instrument should also play in the key of Bb. This is the standard concert pitch for a trumpet, and it will make it easier for the student to blend in and play along with the other trumpet players. Choose a good brand name when buying the trumpet, and you should end up with a quality beginner trumpet.

Care and Use

Cleaning a trumpet is fairly easy. All you need is some decent quality valve oil, some slide grease, and a bit of dish soap. Take the instrument apart and place any felt pads and non-metallic parts off to the side. Make sure you remove all of the slides and valves from the instrument. Use warm water to fill a bucket with about 4 gallons of water. Place each trumpet part in the bucket one at a time and clean them using a trumpet snake and soft cloth. Dry the parts and place them on a rack so that the inner tubing can drip dry. For the valves, use a valve brush to carefully clean the inside of the valve casings with the trumpet submerged in water. The valve brush can also be used to clean between the tunnels in the valve itself. Clean all of the parts accordingly, and let them sit out in a protected area until the trumpet is dry. Regrease the slides, oil the valves and put your trumpet back together again.

Controversy

The main controversy surrounding the purchase of a new instrument is whether to buy a used or new trumpet. Some argue that a professional trumpet that is used is a better option for the beginner trumpet player. However, it doesn't make sense to buy a professional trumpet when the beginner hasn't yet developed the technique to play one. The beginner trumpet is designed to make it easier for a beginning student to play. Professional trumpets are designed with minimal airflow resistance. This makes it possible to perform virtually anything. A beginner trumpet will have more resistance, which makes it easier to play notes in tune and not overblow the horn.

Prerequisites

A beginner trumpet player should have some experience playing if possible. When getting a trumpet, the player should visit a music store and try out several different mouthpiece options. The mouthpiece that a trumpet player uses will have a great effect on the tone production and the degree of difficulty when playing. A mouthpiece that is larger will be easier to play at first, but it will require more effort to play higher notes. A smaller mouthpiece may make the higher notes easier to play, but it can lead to quicker fatigue. A good suggestion is to start with a standard beginning mouthpiece and then adjust the sizing until the right fit is discovered. Some good brands to consider are Yamaha, Bach, Bundy, Getzen and Etude. Essentially, go cheap on a beginning horn, but don't sacrifice basic performance and quality.

Watch this video to learn how to properly oil the valves on a trumpet:

Five Best Beginner Trumpet

Etude ETR-100 Series

This trumpet is designed to be easy to use and maintain. It has a larger bore, which makes it easier to play in the lower register. The third valve ring finger is adjustable, which is a feature that is missing in other lower-priced instruments. The bell material is made of yellow brass and the lead pipe is made of red brass. This results in a strong sound that is capable of cutting through the band or orchestra. The mouthpiece is a standard 7C mouthpiece, which should work for most students. The instrument tends to play pretty well in tune throughout the range, and the student will enjoy a rich, robust trumpet sound. The valves slide smoothly, which can sometimes be an issue with the lower-end trumpets. The material is also designed to resist corrosion, which makes this an ideal trumpet for the beginning student since corrosion can make a trumpet unplayable.

Allora AATR-101

The Allora brand offers some of the more affordable student trumpets on the market. The brand uses some high-quality components, including Monel piston valves. The larger bore makes it easier to play this instrument, and the red brass leadpipe ensures that the trumpet has good tone production. Beginners will enjoy the ease of use with this trumpet and will find that it's an easy trumpet to learn to play. The student trumpet offers valves that are actually stronger than steel and use a corrosion-resistant material. This is essential for any student horn. The trumpet is also designed to provide a secure grip on the horn so that the beginner trumpet player won't accidentally drop the instrument. Allora is a suitable brand for a beginner or intermediate, but this trumpet may be a bit more money than needs to be spent on a beginning player.

Prelude by Conn

The Prelude offers some high-quality features in a student design. Starting with the red brass leadpipe, the horn actually helps students nail their notes. The silver outer slides are useful for preventing the slide from getting stuck. Additionally, the instrument uses stainless steel pistons to ensure a rust-free playing experience. With a good valve oil, this instrument will perform well and reliably in a variety of ensembles. It comes with a standard Bach 7C mouthpiece, and the larger bore makes it easier to get a good tone quality on the horn. There are some counterfeit Bach Prelude trumpets out there, and you should be wary of any Bach trumpet that claims it's a Prelude. Only purchase a Prelude from the Selmer-Conn company to ensure you get the right model.

Bundy BTR-300 Series

Bundy produces horns that can take a bit of a beating. This horn offers your typical red brass leadpipe material and a standard taper to give the student a good balance of resistance. The bore is one of the larger student horn bores. This means it's going to be easier to play for most students, but the student will also have to use more air to accurately produce a good tone. The taper of the leadpipe helps to focus the air and provide a good tone quality. Nickel-plated, yellow-gold brass is used on te valves, and this makes it possible to play quickly. A standard 7C mouthpiece is included with the horn. Bundy creates very solid horns that seem a bit clunky to play. However, if the price is a concern, this trumpet can provide a good option for a beginning trumpet player.

Barrington BR-TR210YB

Barrington is a lesser-known brand, but it is a suitable brand for a beginner trumpet. The trumpet is made well, and it uses all of the right materials in all the right places. The bell and the leadpipe are both made from yellow brass. This is rather unusual in a student trumpet. Typically, a student trumpet uses red brass for the leadpipe and yellow brass for the bell. The red brass gives the trumpet an edgier sound, and it will help it project in an ensemble. Yellow brass softens the tone, so it's not the best option for a trumpet that needs to be played in a marching band or beginning band. However, the sound will be more mellow, which some students may enjoy. This could also give the student an advantage for a solo audition since the tone will be unique.

Conclusion

For a beginner trumpet, the Etude ETR-100 is the best option. It's highly affordable, and it comes with a nice case and a good mouthpiece. Any student player would love to have this horn, and it will provide good tone quality across the range. It's only about $50 more than some other student trumpets, but the extra quality and design of this trumpet makes it a good choice. Etude is known for making robust instruments that can withstand the rigors of a school band. This trumpet is no exception. The budding trumpet player can learn proper care, develop their technique and in two to three years begin to think about upgrading to an intermediate trumpet.

Stephanie Su

Started learning music when she was four years old, Stephanie is a music teacher and a music therapist who is highly proficient in Piano, Violin, Guitar, and Ukulele. She likes to learn, teach, and share her music playing experiences.

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